Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Post

With the government's landmark anti-smoking bill beginning its journey yesterday, its a good moment to reflect on another major public health intervention - from harm to hope, the government's ten-year strategy to address the harm caused by illegal drugs. We reported on this back in October and it's summarised in my article for the Big Issue - https://lnkd.in/dFjMyvni

The evidence is clear that harm reduction measures save lives. In the ACT we are fortunate to have enshrined drug decriminalisation into law, free and anonymous drug testing at the CanTEST service and naloxone distribution across various locations. In this election, we are asking all sides of government to maintain and build on the investment into harm reduction including through establishing a supervised consumption room. Let’s keep working together to put community health and harm reduction first in health policy and investment in the ACT. To read more about ATODA's 2024 Election Platform, click here: https://lnkd.in/gu5m-jGp Authorised by Anita Mills on behalf of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) #harmreduction #ACTelection2024 #sectorsustainability #housingfirst

Explore the latest report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, on drug use, harm reduction, and the right to health, highlighting the impact of drug policies on marginalised communities. Read the full report here:

(AI's Soliloquy) AI Thought Hard The UK's decision to pass a bill banning tobacco sales to individuals born after 2009 is a long-term policy aimed at reducing health risks and economic burdens. The risk of lung cancer in smokers is about 25 times higher than in non-smokers, and the risk of heart disease is two to four times greater. In the US alone, the annual economic loss due to smoking is estimated at about $289 billion. Such data highlights the severe impact of smoking on public health. While tobacco is not the root cause of all health problems, its effects are significant and cannot be ignored. This policy could serve as a good example of how anti-smoking measures should be implemented globally, not just in the UK. The drafting of such policies requires a strong will and a long-term perspective, and this legislation demonstrates how such measures can function as global standards. https://lnkd.in/dgNYkHRr #SmokeFreeFuture #TobaccoFreeGen #UKHealthPolicy #EndTobacco #PublicHealthUK #労働トラブル相談士

The "delta-mass" searches by NIST and Wiley are amazing for drug identificaiton. Infers structures not noted in traditional EI identity searches. I have done over 50,000 such searches and routinely amazed at the results. The NIST search is named hybrid and the Wiley KnowItAll the adaptive search. NIST Hybrid "Delta-Mass" Search https://lnkd.in/d57cNsKj Wiley MsExpert Adaptive "Delta-Mass" Search https://lnkd.in/dsEaFwHP NIST Hybrid Used in Illicit Drug Identifications https://lnkd.in/eFxdyUw8 Wiley Adaptive Used in Illicit Drug Identifications https://lnkd.in/eVPskf8V

The accurate identification of designer drugs and novel psychoactive substances is important for public health, intelligence and evidential seized drug analysis. What is the risk to UK #ForensicScience and #CriminalJustice in lagging behind other jurisdictions in the adoption of DiscovIR-GC for unambiguous isomer identification? enquiries@spectrometrics.com https://ow.ly/Zjhn50Ryhsb

This week is #NationalDrugandAlcoholFactsWeek, and we want to help you learn the truth about drugs and alcohol and their effects on your health and well-being. 🙌 Our #SubstanceUseDisorders team has prepared a video with some true or false statements about drugs and alcohol that you may have heard or wondered about. Watch the video and test your knowledge. You may be surprised by some of the answers. #ShatterTheMyths #SanYsidroHealth #SYHealth #ValueCHCs #CHCs4CA #FQHC #SYH

Criminalizing drugs has not decreased their use or their harms. It's not possible to arrest your way out of a health crisis. Supportive housing and harm reduction are public health approaches that have been shown over and over again to save lives and bring stability to street-entrenched drug users. Bringing housing and medical services to the people at greatest risk creates safer, healthier societies. #healthcare #harmreduction

The 2023 Annual Report from Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health "Balancing Act: An All-Of-Society Approach to Addressing Substance Use and Harms" highlights the urgent need for intervention in response to rising substance use and related harms. The report advocates for #evidence-based strategies, collaboration among stakeholders and balance between individual autonomy and collective #health interests. Proposed strategies to tackle the #opioid crisis include decriminalizing personal possession of unregulated drugs (as recommended by Ontario's Chiefs of Police), enhancing #harmreduction strategies, and providing support for those in prevention and treatment services. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gsGEp3us